Lemongrove Stud, Mullingar

AUGUSTE Rodin is the latest racing star by Japan’s late, great super sire Deep Impact.

Irish breeders are traditionally quick to adapt to new trends and top marks to Tom Wallace of Lemongrove Stud in Mullingar, who was ahead of the game when importing Deep Impact’s Australian dual Group 1-winning son Tosen Stardom a couple of years ago.

The decision to shuttle the stallion from Australia to Ireland was a significant undertaking, fraught with challenges and risks.

However, Tom - along with Zenith Stallion Station and Mohammed Ali Faisal Abdulkarim Farooq - felt it was a risk worth taking as he felt: “something different was needed in Irish breeding”.

During a 29-start race career, which started in Japan, Tosen Stardom won seven races, two of them at the highest level, the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over a mile and the Group 1 Emirates Stakes, formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes, over 10 furlongs.

He was a dual Grade 3 winner in Japan and also finished runner-up in the 2015 Ranvet Stakes (Group 1, 10 furlongs) at Rosehill. Emiratis Hamad Al Kadfoor, a Dubai-based lawyer and long-time successful owner and breeder, and his racing business partner Ali Farooq initially joined forces with Tom to shuttle the stallion to Lemongrove Stud in Mullingar for the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season.

Farooq, who has a deep connection with the Australian racing and breeding industry via his association with Emirates Park, claimed that this son of Deep Impact “will really suit the European style of racing, probably more so than the Australian style of racing.” He continued: “In Ireland and England it’s more about the middle-distance racing, such as the Derbies and the Guineas and the King George.”

His thoughts were echoed by Tom and their decision was met with great enthusiasm from Irish breeders, with Tosen Stardom covering an acclaimed roster of both National Hunt and flat mares in his first season. They included the dams of Champ Kiely, Hannon and Beau Recall, the last-named a $1 million winner in the US.

Having just completed his first stud season in Ireland, Tosen Stardom’s remarkable fertility is undoubtedly another factor contributing to his popularity. Last season he was tasked with 32 coverings and all 32 he covered went in foal.

Tosen Stardom was initially brought to Ireland on a shuttle deal but he has since been bought outright by Zenith Stallion Station, meaning “he’s not going anywhere, he’s staying in Ireland!”

The outright ownership means that Zenith Stallion Station will be able to enhance their cooperation with breeders and offer potential clients “more favourable deals”.

Having taken part in the ITM Irish Stallion Trail last year, Tom was eager to get involved again. Over the course of last year’s Trail, Lemongrove Stud had “over 50 different groups call on the Friday and Saturday” and they hope to increase those numbers next weekend.

Tom told me that potential clients appreciated the opportunity to see Tosen Stardom in the flesh and to observe his beautiful, scopey, walking movement.

If you are in the Westmeath area, perhaps visiting Tally-Ho or Starfield, why not pop in to Lemongrove too.